Rotary operated reciprocating switch



May 18, 1948. J. HORMAN 2,441,634-

ROTARY OPERATED RECIPROCATING SWITCH Filed May 50, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Iinw is;

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' ATTORNEYS May 18, 1948. J. H. HORMAN I ROTARY OPERATED RECIPROCATINGSWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 30, 1945 NVENTOR. wa 64 BY I ATTO/P/VfY5 Potontod May 18, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROTARY OPERATEDBECIPROCATING SWITCH Application May 80, 1945, Serial No. 596,787

5 Claims. (Cl. 200-453) This invention relates to relays.

An object of this invention is an improved contact mounting by means ofwhich two sets of contacts may be brought simultaneously into engagementwith the same pressure applied between co-operating pairs of contacts.

'In a relay embodying this invention, a set of fixed contacts aresymmetrically arranged with respect to a rotatable shaft forming part ofa magnetic motor. An insulating carrier has a bore through which theshaft extends and is provided with a set of contacts complementary tothe set of fixed contacts. Means are provided for preventing rotation ofthe carrier and the carrier bore is slightly lar er than the shaftdiameter so that it is capable of slight tilting relative to the shaftaxis. (Jo-operating means are provided on the shaft and carrier foreffecting movement of the carrier axially of the shaft upon rotation ofthe shaft. Such movement of the carrier brings its contacts intoengagement with the fixed contacts and the operating pressure isdistributed uniformly to the co-operating pairs of contacts irrespectiveof whether the plane of the fixed contacts is exactly perpendicular tothe shaft axis. The carrier tilts to compensate for any, deviation ofthe fixed contact plane from perpendicular relation to the shaft axis.

Other objects, novel features and advantages of this invention willbecome apparent from the following specification and accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Fig, 1 is a front elevation of a relay embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig, 1;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 8-5 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1 partially in section;

Fig. 7 is a section on the line I'! of Fig. 8, and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a part of the switch mechanism.

A magnetic metal frame it of U-shape is supported by a base II and theends of the U legs are turned inwardly to form pole pieces l2 havingconcave faces [2a. A magnetic metal core II is supported within theframe l0 and is surrounded by a coil l4. A shaft I! of non-magneticmetal is journalled in the core I8 and projects a considerable distancebeyond the upper surfaces of the pole pieces 1 2. The shaft I I hasfixed thereto an armature It arranged in the gap between the faces l2aof the pole pieces l2 and 2 having surfaces complementary to thesurfaces l2a. Springs Ila bias the armature it and shaft llcounterclockwise.

A saddle ll of non-magnetic metal is attached to the frame I. by boltsIla and spans the upper end of the frame II with an opening therethroughreceiving the shaft it which is provided with a collar Ila underlyingthe saddle. An annulus ll of insulating material rests on the saddle Ifin surrounding relation to the shaft II and is attached to the saddle byscrews it. A plurality of metal posts 20 are supported by the annulus Itin parallelism with the shaft II. The posts 20 pass through twoinsulating material annuli 2i and 22 with the annulus 2| being spacedfrom the annulus It by separators 22 and the annulus 22 being spacedfrom the annulus 2| by separators 24. Nuts I! screwed Onto the ends ofthe posts 20 retain the annuli and spacers in assembled relation. Theannulus 2i carries three equally spaced contacts 28 and the annulus 22also carries three uniformly spaced contacts 21 arranged in alinementwith the contacts 28. Terminal members 2! and 29 are provided'for thecontacts 26 and 21 respectively.

A carrier II has a bore 3| through which the shaft II extends, the bore2| being of somewhat larger diameter than the diameter of the shaft. Thecarrier I0 is biased toward a collar 32 on the shaft I! by a helicalspring 33 arranged between the carrier 30 and the saddle If. A hub 34fits over the upper end of the shaft II with its lower surfacecontacting the upper surface of the collar 32 and preferably, the boreof the hub 34 as well as that portion of the shaft ll within the hub areof complementary shape other than circular to insure unitary rotation ofthe hub with the shaft. A nut ll threaded onto the end of the shaft l5retains the hub 34 on the shaft ii.

The hub 34 is provided with two rollers it having their axes arrangedradially of the shaft l4 and arranged beyond the hub periphery. Thecarrier 8| is provided with a pair of arcuate flanges 21 coaxial withthe shaft II and having oblique portions 20. Also, the carrier II isprovided at its bottom surface with a plurality of contacts II inalinement with the contacts 28 and at its upper surface with a pluralityof contacts 4| in alinement with the contacts 21. Terminals "a and 401:are provided for the contacts I! and 40 respectively. Notches 4| areprovided in the periphery of the carrier II to receive the separators 24which act to prevent rotation of the carrier II while permittingmovement there- 3 of axially of the shaft l8. Rotation of the shaft llthrough an arc of less than 90 causes the rollers 30 to traverse thesurfaces 32 thereby causing movement of the'carrier 30 axially of theshaft I! either against the action of the spring 38 or undertheinfluence of said spring.

The arrangement of the armature l8 on the shaft l relative to therollers 38 is such that with the coil l4 energized and the armature inthe position shown in Fig. 7, the rollers 28 engage high points of thesurfaces 38 so that the carrier 30 is drawn toward the annulus 2| tobring the contacts 39 into engagement with the contacts 26. Uponde-energization of the coil H, the spring 23 lifts the carrier 30 towardthe annulus 22 to bring the contacts 40 into engagement with thecontacts 2! and the shaft l5 and armature l6 are rotatedcounterclockwise from the position shown in Fig. 7 by movement of therollers 35 to low points on the surfaces 38 and by the springs Ilia.Upward movement of the shaft I5 is prevented by the collar l5a on theshaft engaging the saddle l1.

Firm engagement of either set of three contacts of the carrier 30 withthe contacts of either annulus 2| or 22 is insured by the arrangementabove described. In the event that either the contacts 26 or 21 do notlie in a, plane perpendicular to the shaft IS, the carrier is capable ofsufficient tilt on the shaft to effect engagement of all three pairs ofcontacts with the same pressure applied to each pair.

It is of course understood that various modifications may be made in thestructure above described without in any way departing from the spiritof the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a rotatable shaft, apair of radial studs carried by said shaft, a carrier having a borethrough which said shaft extends, means preventing rotation of saidcarrier while permittin movement of said carrier axially of said shaft,a pair of arcuate inclined surfaces on said carrier engaging said studs,means biasing said carrier toward said studs, a first set of contactsmounted on said carrier, and a second set of contacts supported in fixedrelation for engagement by said carrier contacts.

2. A device of the character described comprising a rotatable shaft, acarrier having a bore through which said shaft extends, means preventingrotation of said carrier whi-le permitting movement of said carrieraxially of said shaft. means for effecting axial movement of saidcarrier upon rotation of said shaft, a first set of contacts mounted onsaid carrier, a second set of contacts supported in fixed position forengagement by said carrier contacts.

3. A device of the character described comprising a rotatable shaft, apair of radial studs carried by said shaft, a plurality of postsparallel to said shaft, a carrier having a bore receivins said shaft andnotches receiving said posts. a pair of arcuate inclined surfaces onsaid carrier engaging said studs, means biasing said carrier surfacestoward said studs, a first set of contacts mounted on said carrier, anda second set of contacts supported in fixed relation for engagement bysaid carrier contacts.

4. A device of the character described comprising a rotatable shaft, aplurality of posts parallel to said shaft, a carrier having a borereceiving said shaft and notches receiving said posts, means foreffecting axial movement of said carrier upon rotation of said shaft, afirst set of contacts mounted on said carrier, a second set of contactssupported in fixed position for engagement by said carrier contacts.

5. A device of the character described comprising a rotatable shaft, aplurality of posts parallel to said shaft, a carrier having a borethrough which said shaft extends and notches receiving said posts, afirst set of contacts supported by said carrier, a second set ofcontacts supported in fixed position for engagement by REFERENCES CITEDThe following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 983,976 Carpenter Feb. 14, 19111,736,528 Gay Nov. 19, 1929 2,041,900 Carle May 26, 1936 2,106,581 UnwinJan. 25, 1938

